Terrence Shannon's career-high 16 points spark FSU to win over Tulsa

Shannon entered Saturday's Orange Bowl Basketball Classsic game with 10 points and 12 turnovers in his last three games.

December 29, 2012|By Dieter Kurtenbach, Sun Sentinel

SUNRISE — Florida State forward Terrence Shannon came to South Florida in a slump.

It was a bad one, too. The Seminoles' sixth man came to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic having scored only 10 total points while turning the ball over 12 times in his last three games.

It seemed as if the Seminoles' spark plug had stopped firing. Shannon's form had been so poor that FSU coach Leonard Hamilton called him out, urging the redshirt junior to find it in himself to emerge the rut.

Shannon found something Saturday, as he scored a career-high 16 points and snared 10 rebounds in FSU's 82-63 win over Tulsa.

"I didn't come out with enough energy," Shannon said of his poor performances leading up to Saturday's career game. "Coach challenged me, and I had to step up to the challenge."

Michael Snaer had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to complement Shannon's kinetic performance, as the Seminoles used separate 9-0, 8-0, and 7-0 second-half runs to pull away from the Golden Hurricane.

Shannon, who missed the second half of last season to a shoulder injury, has struggled with injuries this year, as well, but he says the struggles were more mental than physical.

"I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself, at times, and I can tell that it shows at times in my game," Shannon said.

Making the first basket of Saturday's game seemed to release the pressure Shannon was feeling, and while Tulsa hung around to the Seminoles in the early-goings, emboldened by 54 percent 3-point shooting in the first half, FSU's steady improvement on the offensive side consistently swarming defense wore down the Golden Hurricane.

Hamilton credited the performance to Shannon's presence.

"Terrence gave us a big lift with his energy," Hamilton said. "He's been working very hard in practice. ... He gives us just what I need. His play gives us some versatility."

Pat Swilling Jr. and Scottie Haralson both made five 3-point shots Saturday, leading Tulsa with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

The stellar 3-point shooting from Tulsa didn't concern Hamilton. He liked the way his defense contested shots — it was just one of those nights for the Golden Hurricane.

"They had two guys lighting them up from the parking lot," Hamilton said. "I was happy that we were able to do."

Tulsa's first-year coach Danny Manning, who enjoyed a 15-year NBA career before entering coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, Kansas, was equally impressed with the Seminoles' defense, especially in the second half.

"You can't simulate their length and quickness," Manning said.

Saturday's game started ugly and did little to erase that stigma as the contest continued. Tulsa committed six turnovers before finally scoring its first basket at the 15:56 mark of the first half, and that basket cut Florida State's lead in half.

The Tulsa turnovers kept Florida State in the game as the Seminoles' offense slowly came alive. By the end of the first half – which ended with a Devon Bookert 15-foot buzzer-beater from the right wing and a 36-33 FSU lead — the Seminoles had found the rhythm.

Tulsa's hot shooting cooled, and FSU shot 56 percent from the field in the second frame to pull away.

Hamilton said the win over a quality, well-coached team like Tulsa was exactly what the Seminoles needed before they head into ACC play, which will start after a visit to Auburn on Jan. 2.

"Overall, I see us making progress, but there's still a long ways to go," Hamilton said. "We're not even close to being sound in all the areas that I know we'll need to be."